Vat lifting and dumping truck



July 31, 1956 Filed June 17, 1953 I. F. SCHRECK VAT LIFTING AND DUMPING TRUCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Irvin E Schreck ATTORNEY July 31, 1956 I. F. SCHRECK 2,756,883

VAT LIFTING AND DUMPING TRUCK Filed June 17, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet s 1 m. VIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIZ'IIIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR Irvin E Sckreclr BY a/uao ATTORNE trallybulged. portion of circular cross section.

United States Patent 6 VAT LIFTIN G AND DUMPIN G TRUCK Irvin F; Schreck, South-Euclid, Ohio Application June-17, 1953, Serial-No. 362,274-- 12 Claims. (Cl; 214313) Thisdnvention relates to a method. of and apparatus for hoisting, transporting andv tilting barrel-like containers.-

The'method of the present invention maybe used to handle. various types ofbarrel-like containers but 'is preferably'used .to handle barrels .or vats having a cen- In this method .anexpansible and contractible annulus is supported concentric to and above the barrel to be lifted. Thednternal .diameter of the annulus is normally such.

that the-annulus may be slid down over thebulge of the-barreL- The annulusis moved down from its positionvabove the barrel to a position a short distance below the bulge and the annulus is then'contracted so that the internal diameter is less than the diameter of the bulged portion of the barrel. When the barrel .is lifted the weight thereof is imposed upon the contracted annulus :so that a substantially;uniform; pressure is applied to the entire circumference of the. barrel whereby grip .-v ping pressures tending; to distort- .thebarrel are avoided, and the barrel'may be transported and-tilted to discharge.

its contents without damaging .the barrel.

The .apparatus for performing; the above-mentioned method preferably comprises an industrial lift truck'having a carriage mounted for movement vertically onupright. guide standards attached to the truck frame, An annulus-is carried onthe'carria ger-for tiltingg movement about ahorizontalaxis preferably by horizontal trunnions supported .by a pair. of spaced cantilever arms extending..fo.rwardly from the carriage, In order to provide a .cushionbetween the annulus and the. barrel fbeing lifted, it is desirable to employ. a. rubber ringbetween said. annulus and said-barrel To .decrease the internal diameter of the annulus. so as to grip the barrelwhile at the-same time providing a-cushion, itis preferable to provide.- a hollow flexible inflatable ring, such. as a hollow inflatable rubber annulus, supplied with air under pressure. from the truck frame througha flexible conduit;

An object of the present invention is to..provide..a

simple and economical methodand apparatus for -hoist. ing and tilting barrel-like containers wherein. a .uniform.

gripping pressure is applied throughout the..circumference of thecontainer bya radially contractible ring.

A further object of the present invention, is to provide amethod'of lifting. abarrel'wherein a radiallycontractible. annulus is slid. downover the bulgev ofthe barrel andthe annulus is contracted. soas to gripthe barrel;

A' still furtherobject of the invention is to. .providea slack-take-up roller for a flexible conduiflconveying flu'idfrorn the-frame of an industrial lift truck to the vertically movable carriage thereof.

Otherobjects, uses and advantages of the present -invention" will' 'become app arent from the' following description and'dr'awings.

Referenceshould' be had to the accompanying -'drawings forming a part of this specification, in which:-

Figuresl :aside:elevation of 'alift truck embodying "ice 2'. the invention,- showingthe. inflatable gripping ring-iele-s vated to. aiposition above. and concentric .tovav barreli'to/ be lifted;

Fig. 2 isa fragmentary side elevationof the lift truck;- showingtheinflatable gripping ring. supporting the.x-barrel. oif the ground;

Fig. 3 is a fragmenetary side elevation of the.;:lift'truck': showing the inflatable gripping ring -tiltedto a' pouring po on;-..

Fig, 4 is a top plan view of the lift truck;-

Fig. 5 is-afront elevation ofthea truck partially in; section;

Fig.-- 6 is a fragmentary side elevation-of thegguidexy standard viewed as indicated at 6-'.6:in Fig.;y5;'.

Fig 7 is-a fragmentary-horizontal sectiontaken onwthe; line indicated at: 77 ;of Fig..-5

Fig, 8. is a fragmentary vertical section through :the. deflated gripping ring' taken -on :the line indicated at. 8.-8rin..Fig. l;

Fig.- -9 is a-fragmentary vertical section through :the inflated gripping.ring;.taken on the line indicated at. 9:-9 in -Figr; 4; and

Fig. l0-,-isa-, diagrammatic view showing. the: fluidsystems and the fluid .connections :from the truck. frame. to the titlting motor and the 1 inflatable. .rubber ring...

Referring; more particularly to the accompanying drawings, theindus-trial lift' truck of the present invert-- tion has a frame which includes a horizontal base mem her 1 provided witlra rear portion 2 and a forward-pop tion formed by a pair of laterally spaced sidevmembers 3 'and- 4... A pair of .alined laterally spaced .front supporting wheels 5 and a .pairof laterally spaced stops 6c arecarriedt by the side members 3 and 4; A rear steeringv and driving 'wheel 7 is; mounted inna frame -8=swiveled: in the rear portion 2 of the base member '1. The wheel 7 is'driven by meansofan electric motor mounted on theframe- 8xwithin a housing 9'and geared to the'wheel 7 through a sprocket chain 10.

A draft tonguezllis connected by a horizontalpivot 12 tothe frame Sand maybe used to. steer the truck While it is'being propelled by the electric motor in housing 9,- or--to manuallymove .the'truck when saidmotor is'idle. At 21116-011181 end of the draft tongue-11 and rigidly attached thereto aretubular hand grip members- 13 whichproject from oppositesides of. the tongue 11. If desired,suitable-electric control means forthe driving andhoistingmcans may beincorporated in the hand grip; members :13, for example, the control means -'.diS'-: closediin my :Patent =No;. 2,520,857, granted August 29, 1950.-

The..frame includes :an upstanding telescopic elevators orguide standard formed by anouter vertical support 14 rigidly attached .to the base member 1 andan-inner vertical. support 15 mounted for movement vertically. withrespect to theouter support 14. The outer support is formed by a pair of verticalchannel guide members .16, and 17 welded at their: lower ends to the base member 1'at thesidesthereof and connected at their upper endsto a; topcross. bar 18 Which-joins the :upper ends of the chan-vz nel members 16 and 17. A-horizontal shelf 19 is -supported on the outer support .14 .and projects. rearwardly therefrom. The inner support .15 includes a pair of vertical channels 20 and 21 mounted for travel vertically with respect to the channel members 16 and 17 and also includes a top cross member 22 joining the-top ends of'the'channels 20 and 21. These channels carry two vertically spaced pairs of laterally. alined rotatably mounted rollers'23 and "24 which engage the inwardly porjecting=flalnges -'of*the-channel members 16 and '"17 and are guided vertically thereby.

A" load-supporting carriage 25 is mounted for "travel vertically' 'on the inner support"-15' of the upstanding 3 elevator standard and is provided at its forward end with a pair of alined, laterally spaced cantilever arms 26 and 27 and at its rearward end with a flat vertically disposed plate 28 positioned between the channels. The flat plate 28 has rearwardly projecting flanges 29 that support two vertically spaced pairs of alined, laterally spaced rollers 30 and 31 that are guided between and engage the flanges projecting from the channels and 21. A reinforcing arm 32 extends between a bottom side edge of the plate 28 and the forward end of each of the arms 26 and 27 to provide a'strong triangular support.

The carriage is raised and lowered by means of an hydraulic cylinder 33 mounted in vertical position upon the base member 1 midway between the side posts formed by channel members 16 and 17 of the guide standard. The cylinder 33 has a vertically movable piston rod or plunger 34 that carries a pair of laterally spaced sprocket wheels 35 at its upper end. A sprocket chain 36, attached at one end to the plate 28 of the carriage 25, extends over each sprocket wheel 35 and is attached at its opposite end to the truck frame. The upper end of the plunger 34 engages the top cross member 22 of the inner support 15 to move the same vertically with the plunger. By the use of the sprocket and chain hoisting connection, the inner support 15 moves half as far as the carriage 25 during each revolution of the sprocket wheels 35. The vertically spaced pairs of rollers 23, 24, 3t and 31 and the supports 14 and 15 of the elevator standard provide a strong support for the load supported on the carriage 25 at all vertical positions of the carriage and the inner support 15. The inner support 15 is particularly advantageous where a heavy load is to be lifted a considerable distance, since it allows the use of a relatively short standard.

Immediately to the rear of the elevator standard the rear portion 2 of the base member 1 supports a battery frame 37 containing an electric battery 38 which is connected to the electric motor within housing 9 by an electrical conduit 39.

A rigid metal annulus 49 is mounted on the forward portion of the carriage 25 for rotation about a horizontal axis by alined horizontal trunnions 41 that are journaled in upwardly extending flanges d2 welded to the top of the forwardly projecting arms 26 and 27, the trunnion axis being located a short distance in front of the center of the annulus 4i} as viewed in Fig. l. A lever arm 43 is welded to the annulus 4'1) at its one end and is pivotally connected to a piston rod 44 of a single-actingreciproeating tilt motor 45 at its other end. The cylinder of the tilt motor 45 is pivotally mounted on an upstanding flange 46 welded to the arm 27 at the inner end thereof. I

A short flexible conduit 47 is connected at one end to the intake of the motor 4-5 to supply motive fluid thereto while accommodating tilting movement of the motor 45 with respect to the carriage 25.

strokes of the tilt motor 45 and the lever arm 4-3 are of such lengths that the annulus 46 may be tilted approximately 135 from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to the pouring position shown in Fig. 3.

The metal annulus 40 is preferably of cylindrical form and includes upper and lower tubular metal stiffening rings 49 and 5t welded to the top and bottom edges thereof. An inflatable tubular rubber ring 51 is located closely adjacent the inner surface of the metal annulus 4t) and between the rings 4% and. 5b. The tubular rubber ring 51 is normally axially elongated in cross sectional form and contains a similarly elongated annular air chamber therein whereby the inner diameter of the ring will be radially contracted when the ring is inflated as shown in Fig. 9. To prolong the life of the ring without greatly increasing the cost thereof, it is preferable to provide fabric reinforcement at least on the inner barrelgripping surface of the rubber ring. As herein shown the ring 51 has a substantially cyiindrical fabric rein- The other end of con duit 47 is rigidly connected to the carriage 25 at 48. The

. slots 53, and along the inner surface of the annulus 40.

The two ends of each strap 54 are connected together by suitable fasteners 55. A short flexible conduit 56 is rigidly connected at one end to the metal annulus 40 and at the other end to a rigid pipe 57 fixed to the top of plate 28. The conduit 56 accommodates tilting movement of the annulus 46 with respect to the carriage 25 while conveying air to inflate and deflate the ring 51.

The horizontal shelf 19, which is supported on the guide standard of the truck frame, provides a support for an air compressor 58 that is driven by an electric motor 59 and for a pair of housings 6i and 61 and their associated electric motors 62 and 63. The housing provides a reservoir for hydraulic fluid and contains a pump 64 driven by the motor 62 for supplying motive fluid to the tilt motor 45. A supply conduit 65 conveys hydraulic fiuid from the pump 64 through a two-way valve 66 to a conduit 67 which is rigidly connected at 68 to the guide standard of the truck frame near the plane of the shelf 19. Connected between the end 68 of conduit 67 and the end 48 of conduit 47 is a long flexible conduit 69 which conveys motive fluid to the tilt motor while permitting relative movement of the carriage 25 and the shelf 19. The valve 66 has a first position in which fluid is supplied from conduit 65 to conduit 67 and a second position as shown in Fig. 10 in which fluid is exhausted from conduit 67 through a bypass conduit 76.

The housing 61 is similar to the housing 60 in that its acts as a reservoir and contains means including a pump driven by the electric motor 63 for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to cylinder 35 to raise and lower the plunger 34. The hoisting system employed on the lift truck of the present invention may be of the type described in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,520,857.

The air compressor 58 supplies air under pressure through a supply conduit 71 and a two-way air valve 72 to a conduit 73 which is rigidly connected at 74 to the guide standard of the truck frame near the plane of the shelf 19. A long flexible conduit 75 is connected between the rigid conduit connections at 57 and 74 to convey air to and from the rubber ring 51 while permitting relative movement of the carriage 25 and the shelf 19. The two-way valve 72 has a first position wherein air under pressure is conveyed from supply conduit 71 to the flexible conduit 75 and a second position as shown in Fig. 10 wherein air is exhausted to atmosphere from the flexible conduit 75.

The long flexible conduits 69 and 75 are preferably of about the same length and have loop portions that pass beneath a pair of similar slack take-up rollers 76 and 77 which are supported in the loops of said conduits and which are provided with annular circumferential recesses that receive the flexible conduits. The rollers 76 and '77 are guided vertically by a pair of similar roller guide channel 78 and 79, the inwardly projecting flanges of which provide guiding surfaces which engage the rollers. Channels 16 and '78 and channels 17 and 79 are fixed to the frame member 1 and are spaced apart a distance only slightly greater than the width of the rollers 76 and 77, respectively, so as to provide a vertical guiding means of rectangular cross-sectional form in which the rollers may roll. The weight of the rollers 76 and77 biases the long flexible conduits 76 and 69 in the downward direction to take up the slack caused by movement of the carriage 25 with respect to the shelf 19 of the truck frame. t

H The lift truck described above is usually employed ayrsegses for-hoisting; moving and dumping-vats,-' hogsheads",-'- or large 'barrelsof the-typeshown= in-Figs. 1 to-' 3. Fig," 1 shows a'centrally bulged barrelorvat80 of'cir'cular" cross section containing'a large volume ofIiquid; the maximum diameter of the barrel at: the bulge thereofb'e ing slightly less than the normaldi'ameter of :theexpanded' inner surface 52 and largerthan thediameter-of'the'con tracted inner surface 52. Theannulus-40 andririg 51" may obviouslybe made of various sizes-to=handle'dif ferent types of vats and hogsheads.

The method of thepresent invention-comprises placing'the inflatable rubberring 51 above and coaxial -with the barrel 80 as shown in Fig. 1, sliding'the'ring'down' over the bulge of thebarrel to the'dotted line position shown inFig: 1, and radially; contracting the inner'bar rel-gripping surface of the ring-51and'raising the ring' so'that the internal surface 52 engages and grips substan= tially'the entire circumference ofthe barrel 80 below'its' bulge. The barrel may be raised -to"any desired 'height as shown in-Fig. 2 while'the uniform gripping "pressure is maintained throughout the circumference of the bar-' rel. According to the method of "the -present inventionthe ring 51 is tilted about a horizontal axis as shown in Fig. 3 to discharge the contents of thecbarrel80r Thereafter, the barrel may be tilted back to its'horizontal position and lowered to the ground; The internal surface of the 'ring 51'is expanded to its normal diameter'to .releasethe grip on. the barrel andtopermit sliding of the ringupwardly over the bulge of the barrel 80."

The preferred apparatus for performing themethod is the industrial lift truck described abovewhichzcarries the tiltable ring 51. 7 Before the barrel; 80is'lifted icar riage 25. is elevated and the rubber'ring 51is positioned above and coaxial with the'barrel "80; To. facilitate centering of .the barrel 80 with respectto 'therubber ring 51, it" is preferable to employ the positioning pmeans 6 of the side members 3 and 4. The barrel-engaging outer surfaces of the positioning stops 6'are located at predetermined equal distances from the vertical axis oflthe rubber ring 51 so as to locate the lift truck. in proper lifting position when they engage the barrel 80? The ring 51is slid down over the bulge of the barrel after the valve70 is placed in the exhaust position shown in Fig. 10 to deflate the ring. Valve 72"is then. moved to a position wherein conduit 71 is connectedto conduit '73." A relatively low predetermined initial pressure, for .ex-.- ample 10 to p. s. i. is supplied to the ring 51toinflate the'same as shown in Fig. 9, to reduce its internal.diam-. eter, and to supply suflicient air to the rubber'rin'g 51 to support the barrel, thereby providing a-uniforrn' gripping pressure throughout the entire circumference ofthe barrel. The carriage is then elevated to the desired height, and the barrel is transported horizontally byythe driving wheel 7 to the desired location.

The valve 66 may be placedin a position blocking made "without departing from the spirit ofthe invention;

flow to and from the tilt motor during hoisting and lateral moving of the barrel 80 to prevent undesirable tilting. However, the center of gravity of the barrel ispreferably located a short distance-behind the trunnion axis at 42'so that the piston may be held'in retracted position and the barrel held horizontal as shown in Fig. 2 by the weight of the barrel alone. After the barrel has been moved to the desired location, the valve 66 is moved toaposition connecting conduit to .conduit 67. Pump 64then supplies hydraulic fluid through the conduits.65, 67, 69 and 47 to the motor 45"so as to tiltthebarrel to a pouring position and discharge its liquidcontents. Theannulus 40 may be tilted about ffomQthe position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3 so as to provide a pouring angle of approximately 45. The barrel is tilted back to its original horizontal position by turning valve 66 to the exhaust position as shown in Fig. 10. The weight of the barrel causes the piston rod 44 to retract, and therefore the motor 45 need not be of the double-acting type. The barrel may be released What [claim-is:

15' Iii-an industriallift truck for hoisting and tilting barrels including a-frame 'provided with a standard, a carriage mounted' form'ovement'vertically on the standard and having a pair oflaterallygspaced '-horizontally extending arms; and motor'means to'raise and lowersaid carriage-andsai'd spaced-arms, the'improvement which comprises: a tiltable" barrel receiv ing annulus having; trunnionsjournaled horizontally in'said' spaced arms, a holl'tiw tubularrubber ring'normally of axially elongated cross-sectional form supported within and" concentric with'=said-annulus-, the outer surface of said rubberring being closely adjacenttheinner surface of said annulus, said "ringhavinga fabric-reinforced barrel-gripping inner surface-of a 'diameter when=uninflatedto slip over a barrel to-be lifted, meanslocated on said frame for inflating the-rubber ring 'to-reducethe"internal diameter of saidrubber ring'to grip the barreh'and'motor means connected to--said-"carriage -to til't said='annulus about the'axis of said 'trunnions=so as to'discharge the contents of thebarrel. supported "on'-'-said' carriage;

2'. Ima barrel hoisting industrial lift truck including a frame; a standard verticallysupportedom the frame; a carriage mounted for movementvertically' on'the stand ard, and means to raise-"and lowersaid carriage, the improvement which comprises: aradi'ally ,expansible and contractible-barrel gripping-"ring mounted 'onsaid*carriage' to 'tilt" about *ah'orizontal axis, means totilt said ringabout'said horizontal axis, means to increase and decrease=the internal diameter ofsaid ring, and position= ing means located 'onthe'-*lower*partof said frame be lowsaid carriage and-'havingtwo laterally spaced bar rel-engaging stops-for'-engagementwith a'barrel to be lifted to center said ring with" respect to thefbarrel.

3." In" -a-barrelhoisting and tiltingindustrial lift truck including a frame, a' guide standard vertically supported on the frame, a carriage mounted for vertical movement on-the guide standard,"and'means to 'raise'and lower said carriagey the improvement fwhich' comprises: a.rigid .an-'- nulushaving 'horizontal trunnions'journaled in said car riage, said annulus having; a"flexible radially contractible interior face normally 'of "a 'diam'eterfto Lslip downwardly over-the widest portionof an upright. barrel to'be lifted, means to reduce the internal diameter of said interior. faceto cause said face to engage'the barrel throughout its circumference when-the carriage is elevated, and means to tilt said annulus and'the barrel supportedthere b'jfiabbut the horizontal 'trunnion: axisto discharge the contents ofthe barrel'whilethe carriage is elevated.

4.In"amaterial handling 'industrial lift truck including aframe provided .withia standard, a carriage mountedfor movement verticallyon the standard, and meansto raise and to lower said carriage, the improvement whichcorn-v prises: a forwardly projecting, support on saidcarriage, article-gripping means. including. aminflatable flexible member carried by said support, a-flexible conduit.lead-. ing; from said..frameto saidinflatable member, means located .on the frameto supplyfluid under pressure -.to. saidrinflatable member throughlsaid conduit, a slack-- take.-up -roller beneath :which; said flexible conduit passes, and a roller guide connected to said standard, said roller moving vertically on said guide to take up slack in said flexible conduit due to movement of said carriage vertically.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said inflatable member is mounted for tilting movement on said support, a fluid motor means on said carriage tilts supply conduit passing beneath said roller means and being forced downwardly thereby so that slack in said supply conduit due to vertical movement of the carriage is taken up by said roller means.

6. In an industrial lift truck including a frame provided with a guide standard, a carriage mounted for movement vertically on the standard, and means to raise and to lower said carriage, hoisting and tilting apparatus comprising: a forwardly projecting load carrying member pivotally mounted on said carriage, fluid motor means interposed between said carriage and said member to tilt said member and having a fluid inlet connection fixed to said carriage, a source of motive fluid fixed to said frame, a flexible supply conduit rigidly connected at one end to said motive fluid source and at the opposite end to said inlet connection, said flexible conduit supplying motive fluid from said source to actuate said motor means, a vertically extending roller guide connected to said standard, a slack-take-up roller mounted for vertical movement by gravity along said roller guide, said conduit passing beneath and engaging the lower surface of said roller, said roller biasing said conduit in the downward direction to take up slack caused by vertical movemet of the carriage and the fluid motor means carried thereby.

7. In a barrel hoisting industrial lift truck having a frame provided with a standard, a carriage mounted for movement vertically on the standard, and means to raise and lower said carriage, the improvement which comprises: a forwardly projecting supporting member on said carriage, a barrel-gripping hollow tubular inflatable flexible member normally of axially elongated cross-sectional form mounted along the inside surface of saidsupporting member to tilt, about a horizontal axis and when deflated adapted to beinserted over the top of a barrel to be lifted, means to inflate said flexible member to reduce the internal diameter thereof, said means causing the inflated flexible member to act as a cushion and to exert a uniform gripping pressure throughout the .major portion of the' circumference of the barrel when said carriage and said barrel are elevated, and means to tilt said flexible member and the barrel supported thereby about said horizontal axis.

8. Apparatus for hoisting a barrel-like container comprising: a rigid circumferentially continuous annulus having a metal ring fixed to the top thereof and a cylindrical inner surface, an inflatable hollow tubular rubber ring normally of axially elongated cross-sectional form having a circumferentiallycontinuous fabric-reinforced inner portion adapted to grip said container when inflated, a plurality of fabric-reinforced flexible straps each extending over said metal ring and closely adjacent said cylindrical inner surface, each of said straps surrounding said rubber ring and holding said rubber ring adjacent said inner surface, and means for inflating said rubber ring and lifting said barrel, said rubber ring applying a uniform pressure throughout the circumference of said container.

9. In a barrel hoisting industrial lift truck including a frame, a standard supported vertically on the frame, a carriage mounted for movement vertically on the standard and having a pair of laterally spaced horizontally extending cantilever arms, and motor means to raise and lower said carriage, the improvement which comprises: a circumferentially continuous annulus having trunnions mounted horizontally in said spaced arms, means connected to said carriage to tilt said annulus about the trunnion axis, a circumferentially continuous inflatable tubular rubber ring supported within and concentric to said annulus, said ring being normally of axially elongated cross-sectional form, and means to inflate and deflate said rubber ring to reduce and increase, respectively, the diameter of its internal surface.

10. In a barrel hoisting industrial lift truck including a frame, a standard supported in upright position on the frame, a carriage mounted for movement vertically on the standard, and motor means to raise and lower said carriage, the improvement which comprises: a rigid annulus having horizontally alined trunnions mounted in said carriage, means for tilting said annulus about the trunnion axis, ahollow tubular inflatable flexible ring supported within. and concentric to said annulus and normally of a size to slip downwardly over the widest portion of an upright barrel to be lifted, means to inflate said flexible ring to reduce the internal diameter thereof to less than the diameter of said widest portion and to cause said ring to exert a uniform gripping pressure throughout the circumference of the barrel when said carriage and said ring are elevated to lift the barrel, and means to tilt said annulus and the flexible ring carried thereby about said horizontal trunnion axis to dump the barrel.

11. Apparatus for hoisting and transporting an upright centrally-bulged barrel comprising a vertically movable carriage, a radially contractible ring mounted on said carriageto swing about a horizontal axis, said ring normally having an internal diameter greater than the max mum diameter of the bulge, means for lowering said carriage and the ring supported thereby from a position where the ring is above and coaxial with the barrel to a position where the ring is below the bulge of said container, means. for radially contracting said ring so that its internal diameter is less than the diameter of said bulge and its internal surface engages substantially the entire circumference of said barrel below said bulge when the ring is lifted, means for elevating said carriage to lift said ring and the barrel supported thereby, and

' means for tilting said ring and said barrel about said horizontal axis to discharge the contents of the barrel.

12. In a barrel hoisting and tilting industrial lift truck including a frame having an upright guide standard, a carriage mounted for vertical movement on the guide standard, and means to raise and lower said carriage, the improvement which comprises: a forwardly projecting support rigidly mounted on said carriage, a hollow tubular inflatable rubber ring mounted on said support to swing about a horizontal axis to a horizontal position, means for inflating and deflating said rubber ring to grip and release a barrel, means for limiting the radial expansion of the exterior circumferential portion of said ring, and means for tilting said ring whereby a barrel may be lifted and tilted to discharge its contents.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,377,978 Weber May 10, 1921 1,943,483 Miller Jan. 16, 1934 2,267,355 Van Riper Dec. 23, 1941 2,308,209 Schmutyer et al. Ian. 12, 1943 2,645,372 Broersma July 14, 1953 

